Support Services 

Student Assistance

Shenendehowa provides a vast array of services to meet the unique and varied needs of students as they progress through their educational program. If you find that you are having difficulty in school with academics or personal issues, there are people in the middle school complex who can help: 

• School Counselor - Provides academic, personal/social/emotional, and scheduling.  

• Student Support Counselor- Provides crisis counseling and referrals to outside agencies for students experiencing personal or family problems. Also, they provide networking and assistance when students are placed or referred to outside agencies.

• School Psychologist - Performs psycho-educational evaluations to determine eligibility for special support services for students who are encountering academic and/or emotional difficulties in school.

Additional Academic Support

• Classroom Teacher – Your classroom teacher is available during flex to provide extra help. Before and/or after school help may be available as well. See your teacher to make arrangements.

• Academic Administrators– They are available to assist you with questions you may have regarding curriculum and specific course offerings.

Academic Intervention Services (AIS)

AIS stands for Academic Intervention Services and is mandated by the New York State Education Department.  The purpose of AIS is to identify and remediate student weaknesses, particularly in the areas of English Language Arts and Mathematics in an attempt to assure that students will be able to meet the increased expectations for high school graduation.

The identification of students being recommended for AIS is in alignment with the District MTSS plan and based on specific criteria. Students falling below the identified cut points on the universal screener (and other academic assessments) will be considered for AIS. Students placed in AIS will then have instructional targets identified and goals set. If a student is not making progress, the assessment and intervention will be reviewed.

Although there are designated times for entrance and exit to AIS, students may enter and exit AIS at any point during the school year based on need.

Parents interested in further information may contact the Shenendehowa Office of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment at 518-881-0640.

What services are offered to students with disabilities and how are most  students served?    

Special Education services are determined by the Committee on Special Education in accordance with state regulations.  With the exception of a few students who require alternate learning standards, students with disabilities will have full access to the general education curriculum with support from a resource room teacher, program level aide, or in a special class (for reading, English, and/or math).  For students who require a highly specialized program, students may attend a middle school other than their neighborhood school, in order to meet their learning, social, or physical needs.